THE TRIBULATION SAINTS
REVELATION 7
During the first half of the seven years of tribulation, the political and religious situation in the world will be as follows:
The horseman on the white horse, given power to conquer on the opening of the first seal is extending his influence over the ten kingdoms, particularly the three over which he will shortly dominate, having first signed a treaty with Israel. He is given various names in the Bible (see below), but is generally known in Christian circles as the Antichrist. He will be involved in the first world war, and will take advantage of it for his own purposes.
The religion which dominates is called Babylon, and is supported by the beast, the eighth kingdom. It is very rich, abundantly spreads its false worship, and is responsible for the death of the saints and the martyrs of Jesus.
Two witnesses, filled with the Holy Spirit, will be in Jerusalem. They are only identified as the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth, prophesied by Zechariah. There has been much speculation as to whether they are people spoken of in the Old Testament, such as Moses, Elijah, or even Enoch, or whether they are two prophets whom God will raise up during tribulation itself; the Scriptures clearly teach that Elijah is to return before the tribulation and will conduct a ministry during tribulation10, but this does not necessarily mean that he is one of these the two witnesses. Their exact identity awaits the tribulation.
During the whole of tribulation many people will be convicted of their sins, and will be saved through faith in the Lord Jesus. In order to preach the gospel of salvation, 144,000 single Jewish men of virtuous characters who follow Christ will be selected and sealed with the seal of God on their foreheads to serve God, and at the middle of the tribulation an angel will be sent to preach the everlasting gospel to every nation, tribe, tongue and people.
The 144,000 are made up of 12,000 from every tribe, however it will be noted that the tribe of Dan is missing, possibly because of its idolatry, substituted by Manasseh, giving Joseph double portion.
The multitude which no one could number is at least partly a result of their missionary work, all subject to persecution and death by the false religion and Antichrist's agents. Their salvation motivates the angels, the elders and four living creatures to worship God giving him seven attributes: blessing (actions), glory (greatness), wisdom (all knowledge), thanksgiving (mercy), honour (holiness), power (authority) and might (omnipotence).
THE NAMES OF THE ANTICHRIST
The seed of Satan: Genesis 3:15
The little horn: Daniel 7:8
The king of fierce countenance: Daniel 8:23
The prince that shall come: Daniel 9:26
The one who makes desolate: Daniel 9:27
The wilful king: Daniel 11:36
The man of sin: II Thessalonians 2:3
The son of perdition: II Thessalonians 2:3
The lawless one: II Thessalonians 2:8
The antichrist: I John 2:22
The beast: Revelation 11:7
The Sealed of Israel
1 After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree.
2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea,
3 saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads."
4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:
5 of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed;
6 of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed;
7 of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed;
8 of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.
A Multitude from the Great Tribulation
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
12 saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honour and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen."
13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?"
14 And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 "Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.
16 "They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat;
17 "for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
Rev 7:1-17 (NKJV)